2010 Baltimore Running Festival generates $28M economic impact

The 2010 Baltimore Running Festival drew more than 22,000 participants.

Photo by MarathonFoto

By Ryan Sharrow – Staff

Dec 8, 2010, 2:09pm EST

The Under Armour Baltimore Running Festival generated a record $28 million to the city and state’s economy, according to a study released Wednesday.

The 10th annual event, held Oct. 16, drew a record 22,438 runners. Nearly 63,000 visitors traveled to Baltimore for the race, headlined by the 26.2-mile full-marathon, according to a study by RESI, an economic think tank at Towson University.

The sold-out festival drew participants from all 50 states and 24 countries.

The event’s organizer, Elkridge-based Corrigan Sports Enterprises, also said charitable proceeds generated by the event topped $1 million for the first time.

Among the charities are Special Olympics Maryland, United Way of Central Maryland and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Maryland.

Registration for next year’s Oct. 15 event begins Dec. 13. Lee Corrigan, president of Corrigan Sports, told the Baltimore Business Journal in October he hopes to expand the field by 10 percent next year and draw close to 25,000 runners.